PuritanReligionandBeliefs

PuritansBeliefs

ThePuritansstrongreligiousbeliefsonhowGodandSataninteracted
theirbeliefsonSatanspowerswasveryinfluencetothem
Puritanbeliefsystemweredecidedlybasedonotherreligionsatthetime
PuritanssoughtbothindividualandcorporateconformitytotheteachingoftheBible
ThePuritansdifferedfromothernonconformistgroupsatthetimeinthatinsteadofwantingtobreak
offfromthechurchcompletely,theywishedtoreformit.
ThebasisforthePuritansbeliefswasanemphasisontherighteousnessandsovereigntyofGod.

JonathanEdwards/TheGreatAwakening

JonathanEdwardsstartedtheGreatAwakeningthroughhisspeech:SinnersofanAngryGod
TheGreatAwakeningwasanawakeningofreligiousbeliefinthecityofconnecticutwhichspread
uptotheNorthernstates.
JonathanEdwardspreachingtacticswereinfluencedbyGreekandLatintext.
Hispreachingevokedterrifyingimagesintothemindsofeveryonewholistened,withhimcomparing
ustoaspideronathreadoverfire.
Jonathanwasexposedtoscientificideasasachild,butdevotedhimselftogodafterbeing
influencedbyJohnLockesEssayonHumanUnderstandings.
JonathanEdwardscontinuedpreachinguntil1750,5yearsaftertheGreatAwakeningsubsided.

AnneHutchinson/PuritanCommunity&Government

HutchinsonbelievedthatChristianswhohadachievedgraceactuallybecamethespiritofGodand
thatthecovenantofgracemadethecovenantofworksunnecessary.
Hutchinsonheldprivatemeetingswithinherhomeforbothmenandwomentoteachothersher
versionofgrace.
HutchinsoncommittedaformofheresycalledAntinomianism.
HutchinsonsteachingangeredPuritanleadersduetothechallengeinauthoritytowhowasworthy
ofsalvation.
AfterJohnWinthropwasreelectedgovernor,severalofHutchinsonsfollowerswereremovedfrom
office.
HutchinsonwaschargedbytheGeneralCourtwithviolationofthelawsthatforbadeher,asa
woman,tospeakinpublicandtoteachmen/peopleolderthanherselfthusbeingbanishedfromthe
community.


TheSystemofGovernmentinPuritanTowns

PuritanspracticedTheocracy
MostPuritanlawscamefromtheBible
Punishmentforbreakinglawswasusuallydoneinpublic
Itwasbelievedthatifthegovernmentfailedtomaintainproperstandards,Godwouldpunishthe
wholesociety
Criticsofthechurchwereoftenexiled
Onlypropertyowningmalescouldvotefortownofficials

PuritansandQuakers

PuritanismwasthedominantreligioninNewEnglandandthereligiousleadersdominatedtheland.
WhentheQuakersarrivedfromEngland,PuritanleaderssawtheQuakertheologyasathreatto
theirpower.Thisresultedinprosecutionandkillings.
Puritansbelievedintheteachingsofpredestination,whichconcernedthefactthatoneslifewas
alreadyplannedbyGodandyourfatehasbeensealed.
Quakersbelievedintheidealsofinnerlight,whereeveryonewasseenasavesselofGodswill.
PredestinationandinnerlightteachingsclashedbecausethePuritanleadersbelievedthethe
rulesandadministrationofthechurchwillturnfutilewiththebeliefofeveryonehavingthelightof
God.
Thebeliefofsocialstratification,wherePuritansputpeopleintosocialclasses,wasdislikedby
Quakersandfurtherinducedtheconflict.

DailyLifeofPuritans

Womendidnotparticipateintownmeetingsandwerenotallowedtomakedecisionsinthechurch.
Thechurchwassometimespatrolledbyamanwhoheldalongpole.Ononeendwasacollection
offeatherstoticklethechinsofoldmenwhofellasleep.Ontheotherwasahardwoodenknobto
alertchildrenwhogiggledorslept.
Thewomenwovecloth,madecandlesandsoap,tendedthegarden,workedinthefieldsandcut
wood.
Puritanfamiliesmeditatedandprayedbeforesleepatnight,whentheywokeupinthemorning,on
Saturdaysandatchurchservices.
Therewerecelebrationsandfestivals.Peoplesangandtoldstories.Childrenwereallowedtoplay
gameswiththeirparents'permission.
Thewomens
skirtsmustbelongenoughtodragthefloor,itwasconsideredunladyliketohaveany
ankleshowing.